Network
of Earthkeeping Christian Communities in South Africa
NECCSA
Update: July 2002
1.
NECCSA formally established
The Network of
Earthkeeping Christian Communities in South Africa was formally established on
20 May 2002. This followed months of extensive consultations leading to
provincial launches in KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape.
Other provinces will hopefully follow soon. The following persons were elected
to serve on the Governing Board of NECCSA:
Rev
Keith Benjamin (Chairperson)
Bishop
Geoff Davies (Deputy Chairperson & representative for Eastern Cape)
Prof
Ernst M Conradie (Executive Secretary)
Rev
Andrew Warmback (treasurer)
Rev
Roger Hudson (representative for Eastern Cape)
Mr
Frank Kantor (representative for KwaZulu Natal)
Ms
Zanele Mngoma (representative for KwaZulu Natal)
Rev
Sipho Mtetwa (co-opted member)
Ms
Leanne Seeliger (representative for Western Cape)
Rev
Tommy Solomons (representative for Western Cape)
In addition, the
following persons have now agreed to act as patrons for NECCSA: Prof
Denise Ackermann, Bishop Mvume Dandala, Prof Inus Daneel, Dr Molefe Tsele.
A constitution for NECCSA was formally accepted at the first meeting of
the Governing Board. This constitution will be available on the NECCSA
website in due time.
2.
The vision and aims of NECCSA
The vision and
aims of NECCSA may be captured in the following way:
·
The main purpose of this network is to
stimulate a concern for the environment and, more specifically, environmental
justice amongst Christian churches in South Africa.
·
It provides a communication network to
share information, concerns, visions, stories, resources and creative
suggestions with one another in order to support, encourage and inspire others
to address environmental concerns effectively and from within a Christian
orientation.
·
The focus of the network on "earthkeeping" suggests that
Christian ministry includes the responsibility to attend to (to
"keep") the well-being of the whole earth community (which includes
but also transcends human well-being).
·
The struggle for environmental justice
seeks to challenge the abuse of power that results in the situation that
marginalised people have to suffer the effects of environmental damage caused by
the greed of others.
3.
NECCSA Membership
It
has to be said that the process of recruiting members of NECCSA has been rather
slow getting off the ground. NECCSA invites any interested groups and
individuals to become members. By
becoming a member of NECCSA you will demonstrate much needed support for its
vision and aims, help to share suggestions for earthkeeping practices and help
us to keep in contact with you.
You
will find a Membership Application form attached (NECCSA Apply.rtf).
4.
World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
There have been
several Christian initiatives to make an input to this important event that will
be held in Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September 2002. Several members of
the NECCSA Governing Board will attend the Global Forum at NASREC and will in
this way be able to make an input to the discussions there.
The best way to
keep track with developments on the WSSD is to visit its website at
www.worldsummit.org.za
5.
Documents and publications
Several important
documents have been produced to stimulate reflection on environmental concerns
and to offer a Christian witness regarding the issues that will be discussed at
the World Summit on Sustainable Development:
·
The Land is
Crying for Justice
This is a South African discussion document on issues of environmental
justice. This booklet was produced following a workshop hosted by EFSA on 30
April 2002 and may be ordered through the Ecumenical Foundation of Southern
Africa ( efsa@iafrica.com ).
·
The earth
belongs to God
This African document was produced at a consultation in Machakos, Kenya,
6-10 May 2002. This document is available from Prof Jesse Mugambi (jmugambi@iconnect.co.ke),
one of the organisers of the consultation.
·
This is God's
earth
This document was adopted by SACC & Church Representatives on 19 June
2002 in preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). It
is available from Dr Steve de Gruchy (DegruchyS@nu.ac.za)
and others.
·
Choose Life!
This discussion paper on the World Summit on Sustainable Development was
produced by the Alliance for Justice & Peace in Southern Africa,
a Southern African regional forum of the Catholic Justice & Peace
Commissions. Contact Efrem Tresoldi's
office in this regard (etresold@sacbc.org.za).
·
A Rainbow over
the land: A South African guide on the church and environmental justice
A second print of this book, co-authored by Ernst Conradie & David
Field, is now available at R40/copy. Please order copies from econradie@uwc.ac.za
6.
NECCSA Governing Board
The next meeting
of the NECCSA Governing Board will take place on Tuesday 13 August. If you wish
to raise any issue regarding NECCSA, its membership and activities, please
contact the Executive Secretary in this regard (emcemp@iafrica.com).
Issues on the agenda will include NECCSA membership, a website, newsletter and
logo for NECCSA and the WSSD.
You are
welcome to distribute this NECCSA Update electronically to any other interested
person.
Distributed
by EM Conradie 31/7/2002.